Preparation of pyrrol and oxazole compounds: formation of porphyrins and C-acyl-α-amino acid esters therefrom

ABSTRACT

A process for preparation of new or previously known pyrrol derivatives is provided. The process involves reacting a nitroalkane or a nitroalkene with an isocyanoacetate in the presence of a proprophosphatrane &#34;super base&#34; to prepare the pyrrol compounds. Through production of new pyrrol compounds, new pyrrol derivatives such as dipyrromethane and porphyrin may be synthesized. In addition, the high yields of pyrrol compounds produced according to the method of the invention provide for more efficient production of previously known dipyrromethane and porphyrin compounds. The invention further provides a mild, high yield process for de-esterification of esterified pyrrol and dipyrromethane compounds. The invention also provides a synthetic method for the production of high yields of oxazoles through reaction of an aryl halide or acid anhydride with an isocyanoacetate in the presence of a prophosphatrane &#34;super base&#34;. The product oxazoles serve as intermediates for subsequent treatment to provide pharmaceutically interesting C-acyl-α-amino acid esters.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This invention was made with government support funded by the Department of Commerce under Grant ITA 87-02 and by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CHE-8908136. The government has certain rights in the invention.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/142,775, filed Oct. 26, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,084.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed in part to methods for the preparation of new or previously known pyrrol, dipyrromethane and porphyrin compounds. The invention specifically provides synthetic methods for the production of pyrrol derivatives. The invention further describes newly discovered porphyrin compounds, as well as methods to produce these or previously known porphyrin compounds. The invention is also directed to synthetic methods for production of oxazoles, which may, for example, serve as intermediates for subsequent treatment to provide C-acyl-α-amino acid esters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain pyrrol derivatives are known to be important intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive porphyrins such as octaethylporphyrin. For example, pyrrol derivatives, compounds A-C, and the dipyrromethanes D and E have been utilized as intermediates in the synthesis of octaethylporphyrin (compound F where R¹ =R² =Et) and for the preparation of certain fluoro substituted porphyrins (e.g. compound G where R¹ =R² =Et, R=C₆ H₄ --CF₃. The former is widely used for biological modeling studies and the latter porphyrins are potential agents for the treatment and diagnosis of cancers. Pyrrol derivatives are also important intermediates for synthesizing biopigments, drugs and agrochemicals. ##STR1##

Previously reported synthetic methodologies for pyrrol derivatives are often tedious, and typically provide relatively low yields. For example, 3,4-diethylpyrrol (compound B where R¹ =R² =Et), has been prepared in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), tetrahydrofuran (THF), and isopropylalcohol (IPA) in a relatively low yield (38.1-40%), Meyers, A. I., ED., 70 Organic Synthesis, 67-77 (1991). (Scheme 1) ##STR2##

Tetrasubstituted dipyrromethanes are precursors for important types of sterically blocked meso-diarylporphyrins. Several have been prepared using lengthy procedures which provide low yields. (See e.g. Gunter, M. J. et al., J. Org. Chem., 46:4792 (1981); Young, R. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc.,. 107:898 (1985)). For example, compound E (3,4,3',4'-tetramethyldipyrromethane) is a precursor for meso-diphenylporphyrin. Compound E has been prepared using involved methodologies which provide low yields (8-12%). (See e.g. Scheme 2.) Gunter et al., J. Org. Chem., 46:4792 (1981); Young et at., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 107:898 (1985). ##STR3##

The Gunter et al., supra., and the Young et al., supra, method for the preparation of 3,3',4,4'-tetramethyldipyrromethane, and 3,3'-diethyl-4,4'-dimethyldipyrromethane involved the lengthy Knorr approach (ten or more steps) and gave a very low yield (<10%). In particular, the decarboxylation of compound H with sodium hydroxide proceeds in very low yields owing to its decomposition at the elevated temperatures need for decarboxylation (over 100° C.). A more recent revised procedure is also lengthy and of low yield (about 22%). See Scheme 3. Semeikin, A. S. et al., Izv. Vyss. Uchelon. Zared Khim. Tekhnol., 31:39 (1988). ##STR4##

Irrespective of the route to the final product dipyrrol in Scheme 3, a frequent intermediate contains an ester group (--CO₂ R group) at the alpha or 2 position. Removal of this ester group to form the de-esterified derivative has traditionally been problematic. Typically, an initial step for this process involves the common organic transformation of cleavage of the ester group to form a carboxylic acid by an acidic or basic hydrolysis. However, because pyrrol and dipyrromethane compounds are sensitive to acidic conditions, a more cumbersome procedure has been used to remove the alpha ester group of these compounds through the use of saponification and subsequent thermal decarboxylation. While this method provides a means of preparing 3,4-dialkylpyrrols such as compound B from an esterified compound such as compound A, the yield is very low (38-40%) and the product is not pure, thus requiring purification by vacuum distillation. (Scheme 1.) Meyers, A. I., supra at 68.

The synthesis of porphyrins from pyrrol and dipyrromethane compounds, while well-known, has been of limited utility due to limited availability of pyrrol and dipyrromethane starting compounds. Most of the methods for the synthesis of octaethylporphyrin (OEP) start from 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethyl-5-methylpyrrol, which was prepared by the Knorr reaction of ethyl propionylacetate with 2,4-pentanedione. Pain, III, J. B., et al., J. Org. Chem., 44:3857 (1976). (Scheme 2.) This method is inconvenient because of difficulties in preparing the starting materials and in transforming the 5-methyl group of the pyrrol ring system. Although new methods have been designed prior to the techniques disclosed herein, the preparation of OEP has remained troublesome, particularly whenever more than a few grams are required. This is so because of the accompanying formation of by-product I which lowers the yield of the desired pyrrol compound A, and allows it to be isolated only on a small scale by a difficult chromatography procedure. Ono, N., et al., Tetrahedron, 46:7843 (1990).

Oxazoles (compound J) are intermediates to pharmaceutically interesting C-acyl-α-amino acids (compound K) which, in turn, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of β-hydroxyamino acids, especially β-aryl serines and amino alcohols including sympathomimetic agents such as ephedrine and epinephrine. ##STR5## Traditional synthesis of oxazoles through reaction of isocyanoacetates with acyl chlorides or acid anhydrides in the presence of a large excess of 1,8-diazabicyclo [5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or triethyl amine are typically lengthy (about 48 hours). M. Suzuki et al., Syn. Commun., 2:237 (1972); Suzuki et at., J. Org. Chem., 38:3571 (1973). Modifying the traditional method of oxazole synthesis by reacting an acyl halide with an isocyanoacetate in. tetrahydrofuran (THF) in the presence of only 1 equivalent DBU (Scheme 4), and shortening the reaction time to two hours while stirring at room temperature, produced a mixture with a complicated ¹ H NMR spectrum, and a GC which showed that based on the limiting starting reactant only about eight percent of the desired oxazole was formed. ##STR6##

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for preparation of new or previously known pyrrol derivatives including pyrrol, dipyrromethane and porphyrin compounds. The invention further provides a method for preparation of oxazoles which may serve as intermediates for the pharmaceutically interesting C-acyl-α-amino acids which, in turn, are useful intermediates in the synthesis of β-hydroxy amino acids.

According to the method of the invention, pyrrol compounds may be produced by reacting an isocyanoacetate compound with a prophosphatrane base and a nitro alkane compound of general formula (H)(Z)(R²)C-C(NO₂)(R¹)(H) or a nitroalkene according to the formula (H)(R²)C═C(NO₂)(R¹) wherein R¹ and R² are substituents which are nonreactive under conditions of the reaction and Z is a leaving group under the conditions of the reaction.

Herein when it is said that a group R (for example R¹ or R²) is non-reactive under the reaction conditions it is meant that the group R is such that it does not participate in the reaction and it does not undergo chemical change or transformation during the reaction.

The R groups R¹ and R² should also be such that they do not prevent the reaction. Herein when it is said that an R group (for example R¹ and R²) should be chosen such that it does not "prevent" reaction, it is meant that the group is selected such that the reactants can react in the manner described; for example, the R groups do not provide sufficient steric hinderance for non-reactivity, nor do they prevent sufficient solubility for reaction.

Herein guidance with respect to "non-reactive" R groups and R groups that do not "prevent" reaction is provided in each instance by representative groups. It is not meant, however, that the lists are exclusive.

Although not wishing to be held to any particular theory, it is speculated that the prophosphatrane base of general structure ##STR7## causes deprotonation of the isocyanoacetate compound to yield an isocyanoacetate anion which then condenses with the nitroalkane or nitroalkene compound to form a pyrrol derivative of general structure The reaction is preferably conducted in an organic non-protic solvent with or without the presence of isopropyl alcohol. The reaction may be conducted over a temperature range of about -30° to 60° C., preferably below 0° C. and typically takes about one and one-half to four hours for completion.

The product pyrrol compound 1 beating an ester group (i.e., a -CO₂ R group) at a position alpha to the ring nitrogen may be decarboxylated through the use of a lithium halide in a polar aprotic solvent. Unlike prior methods for removal of an carboxy ester from pyrrol derivatives, the method of the invention provides a high yield of the de-esterified product in a simple one-pot reaction without the need for saponification and subsequent thermal decarboxylation.

The method of the invention further provides a process for producing pyrrol derivatives such as dipyrromethanes from esterified pyrrol compounds. Herein the term "esterified pyrrol compound" is meant to refer to a material having an ester group (-CO₂ R) substituted on a pyrrol ring. If the esterified pyrrol compound starting materials are produced according to the method of the invention, isolation from the reaction mixture is not necessary. The esterified pyrrol compounds are reacted with an acid catalyst and formaldehyde or formaldehyde precursor to form the dipyrromethane products. The pyrrol ester compound used as a starting reagent to make the dipyrromethane products will yield a diesterfied dipyrromethane product. The ester groups may be removed from the dipyrromethane products through the use of lithium halide in a polar aprotic solvent as previously described for the pyrrol ester compounds.

The pyrrol compounds, produced according to the method of the invention, may be further reacted, with or without isolation from the reaction mixture, to produce porphyrin products. Because the invention provides a method for producing new pyrrol compounds, use of such pyrrol compounds as building blocks to form porphyrins provides a means for production of new porphyrin products. In addition, the invention provides for a high-yield process for formation of asymmetrical porphyrins through the use of dipyrromethane compound starting materials which may be produced from pyrrol compounds according to the method of the invention.

The prophosphatrane base is also useful, according to the method of the invention, to prepare oxazole compounds of the general structure: ##STR8## According to the method of the invention, an acyl halide or an acid anhydride compound is reacted with the prophosphatrane base in the presence of an isocyanoacetate to yield the product oxazole. The reaction is conducted in a suitable organic non-protic solvent. The product oxazole may be further utilized to prepare C-acyl-α-amino acid esters by reacting the oxazole product with an acid and an alcohol.

All products of the invention are produced under relatively mild conditions in high yields.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The methods described herein provide for the synthesis of relatively pure pyrrol derivatives in high yields. The disclosure provides for the synthesis of new pyrrol compounds which may serve as intermediates for pyrrol derivatives such as dipyrromethane compounds and pharmacologically important porphyrin products. Through the synthesis of new pyrrol compounds, the disclosure also provides for the synthesis of new porphyrincompounds. The invention also provides a new and mild method for removal ofester groups from pyrrol and dipyrromethane compounds without the cumbersome use of saponification and subsequent thermal decarboxylation steps. In addition, the disclosure provides a new and efficient method of producing relatively pure oxazole compounds in high yields which may be used as intermediates in the formation of C-acyl-α-amino acid esters.

I. Preparation of Pyrrol Compounds

The present invention provides for the efficient preparation of pyrrol derivatives, including pyrrol compounds 1-3, dipyrromethane compounds 4 and 5, and porphyrin compounds 6 and 7. ##STR9##According to the present invention, a general, flexible reaction scheme usable to generate selected pyrrol derivatives is provided and reflected in Scheme A, as follows: ##STR10##

The method of the invention provides for reacting a nitroalkane compound, substituted with a suitable leaving group, or a nitroalkene compound, withan isocyanoacetate compound in the presence of a strong base to produce a pyrrol compound. Herein the term "nitroalkane compound", compound 10, is meant to refer to a compound according to the formula (H)(Z)(R²)C--C(NO₂)(R¹)(H); and the term "nitroalkene compound", compound 11, is meant to refer to a compound according to the formula (H)(R²)C═C(NO₂)(R¹). According to the method ofthe invention, the nitroalkane compound is preferably substituted at the carbon alpha to the --NO₂ bearing carbon with an electronegative group which acts as a leaving group (i.e., it is according to the formula (H)(Z)(R²)C--C(NO₂)(R¹)(H) wherein the electronegative group is represented by (Z)). Suitable leaving groups include OAc, Br, Cl,triflate, tosylate and mesylate. R¹ and R² are substituents as described below. A preferred embodiment, as shown in general Scheme A, involves the reaction of a nitroalkane (compound 9) wherein group Z is an acetoxy group (--OAc), or a nitroalkene (compound 11) with an isocyanoacetate (compound 10) in the presence of a strong non-ionic base, in a polar aprotic solvent to produce the pyrrol ester compound 1.

Herein the term "ester group" is meant to refer to a group according to thegeneral formula (--CO₂ R³). The term "pyrrol ester compound" is meant to refer to a compound which includes a pyrrol ring substituted withan ester group, regardless of other substituents in the compound. Herein, the term "de-esterification" in the context of a pyrrol ester is meant to refer to removal of a --CO₂ R³ group from the pyrrol ester compound. The reaction generates the pyrrol derivative (compound 1) in relatively high yield (greater than 80%, typically at least 98% based on amolar equivalent amount of the limiting reactant of compound 9, 10, and 11). The product pyrrol compound may be further reacted to produce dipyrromethane and porphyrin compounds. The subsequent de-esterification of compounds 1 and 4 to yield compounds 3 and 5, respectively, is described in detail in Section IB.

According to the method of the invention, the strong base reacted with the nitroalkane or nitroalkene compound is preferably a non-ionic prophosphatrane base according to the general formula (compound 8): ##STR11##also sometimes referred to as "superbase."

It is understood that each methylene (that is each CH₂ group in each --CH₂ CH₂ -- group situated between two N atoms) depicted in compound 8 bears two hydrogen atoms, which may each be independently substituted with up to two R groups which do not inhibit the reaction in the formation of the pyrrol compound. R groups which may be independently substituted for a methylene hydrogen include, for example, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, and substituted aryl. Addition of R groups may produce steriogenic carbon centers leading to chirality of 8 which may influence the course of reactions with chiral substrates. As an example ofa chiral form of 8, consider the structure below which is chiral and can also exist as its enantiomer. ##STR12##

A preferred base, according to the method of the invention, is trimethyltriazaprophosphatrane (P(MeNCH₂ CH₂)₃ N), (compound 8a). ##STR13##

Synthesis of preferred bases according to the present invention is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,533, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. An improved and preferred base is also described in Verkade, J. G. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111:3478 (1989). An improved and preferred synthesis of base 8a is described in Verkade et at., Tetrahedron Lett., 34:2903 (1993). It is believed that the base, compound 8a, will soon be commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Company.

Although no specific mechanism is asserted, it is believed that the strong basicity of the non-ionic base, compound 8, makes the complete reaction ofa substituted nitroalkane or a nitroalkene with an isocyanoacetate compoundto yield a pyrrol compound very fast (typically less than 2 hours) under mild conditions (for example, room temperature). It is believed that the base, compound 8, deprotonates the isocyanoacetate (compound 10) to produce a form of isocyanoacetate anion (compound 13). If a substituted nitroalkane (compound 9) is used as a reactant, it is believed that the base (compound 8) will also cause conversion of compound 9 to the nitroalkene (compound 11) by deprotonation and loss of the leaving group (Z). Once formed, the isocyanoacetate anion (compound 13) condenses with the nitroalkene (compound 11) to produce the pyrrol ester compound 1. Because it is not necessary to isolate compound 1 prior to further reaction, the one-pot reaction procedure is efficient and desirable.

The superbase (compound 8) has good solubility in solvents which are nonpolar (for example, benzene and hexane) and polar (for example, THF, diethyl ether, ethylacetate, acetonitrile and pyridine). The correspondingprotonated prophosphatrane, compound 12(Y), wherein Y═NO₂, OAc, Cl, Br, or I, is insoluble in nonpolar and weakly polar solvents such as benzene, hexane, THF and diethyl ether but is very soluble in water. (It is noted that the anion Y will comprise both the NO₂ group from the nitroalkane or nitroalkene, and the leaving group of the nitroalkane compound.) The product pyrrol, compound 1, is very soluble in nonpolar solvents such as hexane and benzene, weakly polar solvents such as ether and THF, and some polar solvents such as ethylacetate and acetone. The large difference in solubility between product 1 and compound 12(Y), allows product 1 to be isolated in high yield by filtration of 12(Y). The salt of base 8, namely compound 12(Y), can subsequently be deprotonated with t-BuOK, in high yield, allowing the base, compound 8, to be recycled.This provides additional economy for the procedure.

From the general procedure outlined in Scheme A, it will be understood thata variety of 3,4-disubstituted 2-ester pyrrols, according to the general formula of compound 1, can be prepared. It is foreseen that preferred compounds in which R¹ =R² =Et will be synthesized as intermediates for unique symmetric and asymmetric porphyrin syntheses, as outlined below.

A. Preparation of Pyrrol Derivative 1

According to the method of the invention, pyrrol derivatives, 1, may be prepared in greater than about 80%, preferably greater than 90%, and typically greater than 98% yield (based on the molar equivalent mount of the most limiting starting reactant). The method provides for about a one molar equivalent of starting nitroalkene (compound 11), about one equivalent isocyanoacetate (compound 10) and at least about one equivalentsuperbase 8 (preferably 8a) to form a near molar equivalent of pyrrol compound 1. If the starting nitro compound is a nitroalkane (compound 9), at least about two molar equivalents of the superbase (compound 8, preferably compound 8a) must be added to one molar equivalent of isocyanoacetate and one molar equivalent nitroalkane to form a single molar equivalent of pyrrol product. The additional molar equivalent of superbase is necessary to effect complete conversion of the nitroalkane (compound 9) to the nitroalkene (compound 11) as well as to deprotonate the isocyanoacetate. It is understood that the reaction will provide high product yields in the presence of some excess base.

The starting nitroalkane, (compound 9), is substituted at the position alpha to the carbon with the NO₂ thereon, with a leaving group (Z). This leaving group is electronegative and may be selected from well-known leaving groups such as OAc, Br, Cl, triflate, tosylate and mesylate groups. In a preferred embodiment, the leaving group is OAc. Alternativelya nitroalkene (compound 11) starting material which lacks a leaving group may be used.

The nitroalkane (compound 9) or nitroalkene (compound 11) are shown substituted at the nitro-bearing carbon and at the alpha carbon with R groups designated as R¹ and R², respectively. The stereochemistry of R¹ at the double bond of the nitroalkene may be either the cis or trans configuration. A wavy line in the diagrammatic schemes represents that the R¹ may be cis or trans. According to the method of the invention R¹ and R² may be any group that is nonreactive under conditions of the reaction. In this context, it is understood that with respect to any given group R^(n), the term "nonreactive" means that the R group does not undergo a chemical change, reaction or transformation during the reaction(s) of concern. Also, preferably the R groups are such that they do not prevent the formation ofthe desired reaction product. R¹ and R² suitable for the method of the invention include substituted and unsubstituted alkyls, cycloalkyls, alkenyls, and aryls. All alkyls and alkenyls may be branched or straight chain. Throughout the present disclosure "Me" refers to a methyl (--CH₃) group and "Et" refers to an ethyl (--CH₂ CH₂) group. Although not exhaustive, R¹ and R² may be independently selected from the group including H, C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups; or R¹ and R² may also be referred to collectively as an --R¹ R² -- group wherein they are joined as part of a C₄ or larger C--C ring system, C-C ring size being limited by steric or solubility effects, preferably --R¹ R² -- is a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ -C₈ carbon bridge forming a C₄ -C₁₀ ring. Substitutions on the carbons of the carbon bridge are those which are non-reactive according to the methodof the reaction, preferred carbon bridge substitutions include one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups. R³ of the isocyanoacetate (compound 10) starting material is selected from any group which is nonreactive under the conditions of the reaction mixture. R³ may be selected from the groupincluding alkyls and benzyls, including unsubstituted C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl; C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting essentially of C₁ -C₄ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, NO₂ and NH₂.

The reaction is generally conducted in a suitable solvent. Solvents which are suitable for the reaction generally include organic non-protic solvents. Suitable solvents include THF, 1,4-dioxane, CH₃ CN, dimethylformamide (DMF), diethyl ether and mixtures of these materials. The reaction may be conducted with or without the presence of isopropyl alcohol, which it is presently believed acts as a temporary proton donor. The reactants may be combined with the solvent in any order. Preferably the superbase is added to the mixture to cause deprotonation of compound 10 before addition of compound 11. If the starting nitro compound is the nitroalkane 9, the base may be added to a mixture of compound 9 and 10.

The reaction mixture is stirred until completion of the reaction. The reaction may be conducted over a temperature range of about -30° to60° C., but it is preferably conducted below 0° C. Formation of compound 1 from starting reactants occurs within 8 hours, typically 1.5to 4 hours. Completion can be determined by ³¹ P and ¹ H NMR spectroscopy.

The reaction procedure of the invention allows for synthesis of pyrrol compounds which can immediately be utilized as starting materials for the synthesis of pyrrol derivatives such as dipyrromethanes or porphyrin compounds without further purification. Pyrrol products may also be isolated by chromatography or recrystallization. The isolated pyrrol derivatives are stable and may be stored at about 25° C. or below.

The starting materials,, 9 and 11, are very easily prepared in high yield as described in Barton, D. H. R. et al., Tetrahedron, 46:7587 (1990); Ono,N. et al., Tetrahedron, 46:7483 (1990); and Ono, N. et al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 61:4470 (1988), which are incorporated by reference herein. Compound 10 is commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Company (Milwaukee, Wis.). R¹ and R² in compound 9 and 11 can be variousgroups, as previously described, which are thus introduced at the 3,4 and/or 3',4' positions, respectively, in the pyrrol ring(s) of 1, 2, 3, 4,and 5. One merit of the synthesis of 5 (R¹ =R² =Et) is that the biological application and usefulness of the corresponding new meso-porphyrins from this compound will be greatly enhanced because the ethyl side chains on the rings will render the meso-porphyrins soluble in organic solvents.

As stated earlier, although no mechanism is asserted, it is believed that the strong basicity of 8 allows the rapid and complete conversion of 9 to 11 and 10 to 13. This is followed by condensation of 11 with the deprotonated isocyanoacetate anion, 13, even at low temperatures. Anion 13obtained in this manner appears to be more nucleophilic by comparison with similar anions deprotonated by ionic bases or weak non-ionic bases such asDBU and guanadines. Barton, D. H. R., et at., Tetrahedron, 46:7587 (1990); Ono, N., et at., Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 61:4470 (1988). Thus, the stronger basicity of 8 resulting in the enhanced nucleophilicity of 13 allows the reaction to proceed at -20° to -15° C. to afford compound 1 as the only pyrrol product. In comparison, the use of the weaker base DBU gives almost no product 1 at lower temperature (-20° to -15° C.), although at room temperature the reactionoccurs slowly to give both 1 and the by-product 16 (see Scheme B). The latter compound, 16, is believed to be formed by a side reaction of 13 and15 which is facilitated by the higher temperature decomposition of 14. ##STR14##Because it is not necessary to isolate compound 1 when conducted as a one-pot reaction procedure, the present method provides a substantial savings in labor and cost compared with the Knorr approach. It is also advantageous to use 8, preferably 8a, rather than DBU or other weak bases because of the higher product yield, no detectable byproduct 16, and avoidance, if desired, of chromatographic isolation. As discussed earlier,the salt 12(Y) can be subsequently deprotonated in high yield with t-BuOK allowing 8 to be recycled, thus making the procedure even more economical.

B. Preparation of Pyrrol Compound 3

Methods of preparing de-esterified, 3,4-disubstituted pyrrols from compounds of the general formula of compound 1 are known. The cleavage of esters to yield a carboxylic acid, as a preliminary step to de-esterification, is a common organic transformation usually carried out in a routine manner by acidic or basic hydrolysis. However, pyrrol derivatives are sensitive to acidic conditions. Typically, removal of the alpha ester group from such sensitive materials, has been conducted by saponification and subsequent thermal decarboxylation. The yields for suchde-esterification processes are generally low (38-40%) and the products have not been pure. Meyers supra. (See Scheme 1). According to the presentinvention, a new method is provided for removing the alpha ester group (--CO₂ R³) from pyrrol derivatives.

The pyrrol alpha ester derivatives of general structure of compound 1, derived as described in the foregoing discussion in Section IA, (whether or not isolated from the reaction mixture) may be de-esterified according to the method described in this Section of the invention. Alternatively, the pyrrol alpha ester compounds derived as described in Section IA, may first be reacted as described in Section II to produce tetrasubstituted dipyrromethane diesters 4, and if desired these product dipyrromethanes may subsequently be de-esterified as described according to this Section of the invention. In general, esterified pyrrol derivatives of any source may be de-esterified according to the following method.

According to the method of the invention, pyrrol compounds of the general structure of compound 3 may be prepared in greater than about 80%, preferably greater than 90%, and typically greater than 98% yield based ona molar equivalent of compound 1 starting material. The method provides formixing of pyrrol compound 1 with an excess of a lithium halide in a high boiling polar aprotic solvent to produce pyrrol compound 3. By "high boiling" in this context it is meant that the solvent has a boiling point of at least the temperature necessary to cause decomposition of the carboxylate group. Preferably, the solvent has a boiling point of 170°-250° C. Although no specific mechanism is asserted, it is believed that the mechanism generally involves an S_(N) 2 substitution on the R³ group of the ester by the halide of the lithium halide and subsequent thermal decarboxylation of the resulting carboxylate.

The starting pyrrol compound 1 may be substituted at the R¹, R² and R³ positions. The invention provides for substitution of any group at R¹, R² and R³ which is not reactive under the conditions of the reaction. Also, preferably R¹, R² and R³ are such that they do not prevent formation of the desired pyrrol derivatives under the reaction conditions. R¹ and R² may comprise substituted and unsubstituted alkyls, cycloalkyls, alkenyls and aryls, and R³ may comprise alkyls and benzyls. The alkyls and alkenyls may be branched or straight chain.

The solvents suitable for the method of the invention are high boiling polar aprotic solvents such that the solvents boil at a temperature high enough to cause decomposition of the carboxylate group. High-boiling polaraprotic solvents suitable for the method of the invention include dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), 1,3-dimethyl-α-imidozoline and 2,4,6-collidine. It is understood that the lithium halide suitable for the method of the invention includes all lithium halide compounds.

In a preferred embodiment, a pyrrol compound of the general structure of compound 1 wherein R¹ and R² may be independently selected from the non-exhaustive group including H, C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀aryl; C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups and R¹ and R² may also be referred to as --R¹ R² -- wherein they are joined as part of a C₄ or larger C--C ring system, C--C ring size being limited only by steric or solubility effects, preferably --R¹ R² -- is a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ -C₈ carbon bridge forming a C₄ -C₁₀ ring. Substitutions on the carbons of the carbon bridge are those which are non-reactive according to the method of the reaction, preferred carbonbridge substitutions include one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups. R³ includesunsubstituted C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl; C₁ -C₄ alkyl andbenzyl substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting essentially of C₁ -C₄ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃ NO₂ or NH₂ is reacted with 15-150 molar equivalents of a lithium halide in the order of preference, LiCl>LiBr>LiI, in a solvent such as DMSO. The reaction mixture is stirred and heated to reflux, typically about 180°-250° C. Completion can be determined by TLC or any other suitable method. The reaction will usually be complete within 6 hours, typically within 1.5 hours. The reaction rate for lithium halides decreases in the order: LiCl (typically 1.5 hours), LiBr (typically 2.0 h), and LiI (typically 3.0 h) for production of compound 3.

Advantages of the present method are: (1) S_(N) 2 dealkylation with LiX in a typical solvent such as DMSO is very fast and complete in 1.5 to 3.0 hours at reflux; (2) the decarboxylation produces pyrrol in high yield in a one-pot reaction; (3) the product is formed quantitatively and no further purification is generally necessary; (4) the dealkylation and subsequent decarboxylation process can be carded out on a large scale; and(5) the S_(N) 2 dealkylation reaction is highly selective for an ester ofan unhindered alcohol, preferably methyl and ethyl esters, so advantage canbe taken of selectivity in developing more complicated reaction schemes. Ingeneral, the alpha-lithium carboxylate intermediate is quickly decarboxylated to 3,4-disubstituted pyrrol without isolation, in contrast to the traditional saponification and subsequent decarboxylation techniquewhich gives less than a 40% yield in 6-12 hours.

II. Preparation of Dipyrromethane Compounds

A further embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for synthesizing3,3',4,4'-tetrasubstituted dipyrromethanes in a simple two-step process which typically gives 80-90% yield based on 1 (Scheme A). Indeed, new dipyrromethane compounds can be obtained by using new pyrrol compound starting materials produced according to the method of the invention described in Section I. The dipyrromethanes can be further utilized in an improved method for the synthesis of certain porphyrins, for example, asymmetrical porphyrins. The method of the invention may be used for synthesis of meso-diarylporphyrins (compound 7). ##STR15##

As discussed earlier, Gunter et al. supra and Young et al. supra have reported this porphyrin system, which appears to be attractive for biological purposes in that the ortho-substituted conformational isomers, which are difficult to interconvert (atropisomers), can be separately obtained, and each isomer may be manipulated further to yield a variety ofuseful model heme compounds. This useful porphyrin system, however, has notbeen widely exploited. This is at least in part attributable to the difficulty in obtaining the dipyrromethane intermediates. As noted before,the prior methods to synthesize dipyrromethanes involve lengthy processes with low yields. (See Scheme 3.)

The following new method utilizes esterified 3,4-disubstituted pyrrols (compound 1) as starting substrates to form the pyrrol derivative 2,2'-diester 3,3',4,4'-tetrasubstituted dipyrromethane (compound 4). 2,2'-diester-3,3',4,4'-tetrasubstituted dipyrromethane products may subsequently be de-esterified, by the method of the invention described inSection IB, to yield 3,3',4,4'-tetrasubstituted dipyrromethane (compound 5).

According to the method of the invention, a pyrrol derivative of the general structure of compound 1 is condensed with formaldehyde or a formaldehyde precursor in the presence of a catalyst, which is a strong acid soluble in an organic solvent, to produce the desired dipyrromethane products. R¹, R², and R³ may be any group such that they are nonreactive according to the method of the reaction. Also, preferably R¹, R² and R³ are such that they do not prevent formation of the desired dipyrromethane compounds under the conditions of the reactions. R¹ and R² may include substituted and unsubstituted alkyls, cycloalkyls, alkenyls, and aryls. The alkyls and alkenyls may be branched or straight chain. R³ substitutions which are nonreactive according to the method of the reaction include alkyls and benzyls. The esterified pyrrol, compound 1, may be derived from the process described in Section I, or from other sources wherein preferred R¹ and R² may independently be H, C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₂ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl substituted by one or more C₁ - C₂₀ alkyl, F Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups; and R¹ and R² may also be referred to as --R¹ R² -- wherein they are joined as part of a C₄ or larger C--C ring system, C--C ring size being limited by steric or solubility effects,preferably --R¹ R² -- is a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ -C₈ carbon bridge forming a C₄ -C₁₀ ring. Substitutions on the carbons of the carbon bridge are those which are non-reactive according to the method of the reaction, preferred carbon bridge substitutions include one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂. R³ includes unsubstitutedC₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl; C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting essentially of C₁ -C₄ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe,OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂ or NH₂.

Added to about one equivalent of compound 1 is about five equivalents of formaldehyde (CH₂ O or (CH₂ O)_(n)) or formaldehyde precursor such as dimethoxymethane in the presence of an acid catalyst such as HCl, HBr, PTSA, BF₃.OEt₂ or similar catalysts. If desired, the product, compound 4, may be subsequently dealkyl(benzyl)ated using a lithium halide and subsequently decarboxylated in a high-yield one-pot reaction as described earlier in Section IB.

As previously discussed, the method of the invention in Section IA greatly expands the availability of novel pyrrol starting reagents. As a result, the number of tetrasubstituted dipyrromethane compounds capable of being produced is widely expanded. New dipyrromethanes, 4, synthesized accordingto the invention include 4a (R¹ =R² =Et, R³ =Me), 4b (R¹ =CF₃, R² =R³ =Et), 4c (R¹ =CF₃, R² =R³ =Me), 4d (R¹ =CF₃, R² =Et, R³ =Me), and 4e (--R¹ R² --=--CH₂ (CH₂)₂ CH₂), R³ =Me or Et). The new de-esterified dipyrromethane product, 5, produced according to the method of the invention is 5a (R¹ =CF₃, R² =Et), 5b (R¹ =CF₃, R² =Me), and 5c (R¹ R² =--CH₂ (CH₂)₂ CH₂ --). The yields of compounds 5a and 5b may be decreased due to sensitivity of the CF₃ group to lithium halides. ##STR16##

III. Preparation of Porphyrins

According to the method of the invention, a further embodiment provides a method to produce known symmetrical porphyrins, for example octaethylporphyrin (OEP), in previously unobtainable yields. The method also provides for new symmetrical porphyrins. The method utilizes a pyrrolderivative of general structure, compound 1, as a starting material for porphyrin synthesis. As a result, the greatly expanded number of new pyrrol compounds, 1, disclosed in Section IA, provides for synthesis of new porphyrin compounds in high yields (Scheme C). ##STR17##

According to this embodiment of the invention, pyrrol compounds of general structure of compound 1 are reduced at the ester to give a hydroxymethyl pyrrol compound, treated with a dehydrating agent in the presence of a catalyst and subsequently oxidized to produce the porphyrin product. The R¹, R², and R³ substituents are selected such that they arenonreactive under conditions of the reaction. Also, preferably R¹, R² and R³ are such that they do not prevent formation of the desired porphyrin compounds under conditions of the reaction. Preferred R¹ and R² substituents include alkyls, cycloalkyls, alkenyls, and aryls. Preferred R³ substituents include alkyls and benzyls. R¹ and R² may be independently selected from the not exhaustive group including H, C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ cycloalkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, benzyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl substituted by one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups; and R₁ and R₂ may also be referred to as --R¹ R² -- wherein they are joined as part of a C₄ or larger C--C ring system, C--C ring size being limited by steric or solubility effects.Preferably --R¹ R² -- is a substituted or unsubstituted C₂ -C₈ carbon bridge forming a C₄ -C₁₀ ring. Substitutions on the carbons of the carbon bridge are those which are non-reactive according to the method of the reaction, preferred carbon bridge substitutions include one or more C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, NH₂ groups. R³ may be selectedfrom the group including unsubstituted C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyls; C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting essentially of C₁ -C₄ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂, orNH₂. The pyrrol compounds suitable as starting materials for this embodiment of the invention may be derived as described in Section IA or from any other source.

If the source of pyrrol compound 1 is the method as described in Section IA, the product pyrrol may be isolated prior to further reaction to form porphyrins, however isolation is not necessary for further reaction. Preferably, about one equivalent of compound 1 is added to a reducing agent such as a metal hydride, preferably LiAlH₄ in a suitable aprotic solvent, preferably a hydrocarbon or ether such as 1,4-dioxane, THF, CH₃ CN, DME, or diethyl ether. The reaction mixture is stirred until completion at a temperature of about -20° to 20° C., preferably about -5° to 5° C. The reaction takes less than 6hours to complete, typically about 2-3 hours. The product of the reaction is compound 2. Compound 2 is then added to an organic solvent for example,CHCl₃, CH₃ CN, CH₂ Cl₂ or benzene. To this mixture is added a strong acid, soluble in an organic solvent, in the presence of a dehydrating agent. Preferred strong acids which serve as an acid catalyst include PTSA, HBr, BF₃.OEt₂, and HCl. Suitable dehydrating agents include CH₂ (OMe)₂ or Me₂ C(OMe)₂. The mixture is stirred at 10°-30° C., preferably room temperature for about 24 hours. The product of the reaction is then oxidized with an oxidizing agent. Preferred oxidizing agents include O₂, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanoquinone, or ο-chloranil in CH₂ Cl₂. The oxidation typically takes about 24 hours at about 10°-30° C., preferably room temperature. New symmetrical porphyrins produced according to the method of the invention include 6a (R¹ R² =--(CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ CH₂)--): ##STR18##

Another embodiment of the present invention provides for the synthesis of porphyrins from dipyrromethane compounds, 5. The dipyrromethane compounds may be derived from pyrrol compounds as described in Section II or any other source. This method provides for formation of asymmetric porphyrins (Scheme D). ##STR19##

According to this embodiment, a pyrrol compound, 1, produced according to the method of the invention of Section IA or other source is combined withformaldehyde (as the monomer, or the polymer paraformaldehyde), or a formaldehyde precursor in the presence of an acid catalyst as described inSection II. The product di-esterified dipyrromethane may be de-esterified using a lithium halide, as described in Section IB, further reacted with acatalytic amount of an organic-solvent-soluble strong acid such as PTSA, HBr, HCl, or BF₃.OEt₂ and subsequently oxidized. For example, about one equivalent of compound 1, substituted at R₁, R₂ and R₃ as previously described is added to about 5 equivalents of paraformaldehyde or formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst such as HCl, HBr, PTSA, or BF₃.OEt₂ to yield the di-esterified dipyrromethane product. After de-esterification by addition of about 5-30 equivalents of LiX in a high boiling polar aprotic solvent such as DMF, 1,3-dimethyl-α-imidazolidine, 2,4,6-collidine, or DMSO, as describedin Section I, the product, 5, is mixed with a catalytic amount of PTSA and an aryl aldehyde. Herein the term "aryl aldehyde" is meant to refer to a material having an aromatic ring with a --CHO group substituted on the aromatic ring, without regard to other substituents. R¹⁰ substitutions may be located anywhere on the aryl group such that it is not reactive and does not prevent formation of the desired asymmetric porphyrin compounds under the conditions of the reaction. Preferred R¹⁰ substitutions include single or multiple F, Cl, Br, I, NO₂, NMe₂, Me, MeO, OH, and CF₃ groups. The product is subjected to an oxidizing agent, for example, O₂, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanoquinoline, or ο-chloranil to yield compound 7. A new porphyrin compound synthesized according to the method of the invention is 7a (R¹ =R² =Et, R¹⁰ =p--CF₃).

IV. Preparation of Oxazole Derivatives

Oxazoles are intermediates to pharmaceutically interesting C-acyl-α-amino acids. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for synthesis of oxazoles in high yields through the reaction of isocyanoacetates (compound 21) with acyl chlorides (compound 17) or acid anhydrides (compound 20) in the presence of a strong non-ionic base, for example compound 8, preferably compound 8a. The oxazole product (compound 18) may be further treated, to yield C-acyl-α-amino acids (compound 19) (scheme E). Substitutions on the isocyanoacetate, acyl chloride, and acid anhydrides, (R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, respectively) are selected such that they are non-reactive under the conditions of the reaction. Herein when it is said that a group R (for example (R⁷, R⁸ or R⁹) is non-reactive under the reaction conditions it is meant that the group R is such that it does not participate in the reaction and it does not undergo chemical change or transformation during the reaction. The groups R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ should also be such that they do not prevent the reaction. Herein when it is said that an R group (for example R¹ and R²) should be chosen such that it does not "prevent" reaction, it is meant that the group is selected such that the reactants can react in the manner described; for example, the R groups do not provide sufficient steric hinderance for non-reactivity, nor do they prevent sufficient solubility for reaction.

Herein guidance with respect to "non-reactive" R groups and R groups that do not "prevent" reaction is provided in each instance by representative groups. It is not meant, however, that the lists are exclusive. ##STR20##

A. Preparation of Oxazoles from Acyl Halides

According to the method of the invention, oxazole compounds of general structure, 18, may be prepared from acyl halides, 17, in greater than 80%,preferably greater than 90%, and typically greater than 98% yield based on the molar equivalent amount of the limiting starting reactant. The method provides for about one molar equivalent of isocyanoacetate and about one equivalent of superbase, 8, preferably 8a, to be mixed with about one equivalent of acyl halide, 17, in a suitable solvent, to yield approximately one molar equivalent of oxazole product 18. It is understoodthat an excess of base may also be utilized. Superbase parameters are as previously described in Section I.

The reaction is conducted in a suitable organic non-protic solvent. Preferred solvents include THF, DMF, diethylether, or 1,4 dioxane. The R groups (R⁸ and R⁷) substituted on the acyl halide and the isocyanoacetate, respectively, may include all R groups that are nonreactive according to the method of the invention and preferably do notprevent formation of the desired oxazole compounds. Preferred substitution of R⁸ of the acyl halide includes alkyls, alkenyls, aryls and esters.Alkyls and alkenyls may be branched or straight chain. Preferably R⁸ =C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; CO₂ R where R=H, C₁ -C₄ alkyl and unsubstituted benzyl, unsubstituted aryl and C₁ -C₁₀ substituted benzyl and aryl. X substitution of the acyl halide may be F, Cl, Br, I. Preferred R⁷ substitutions include alkyls and benzyls, preferably unsubstitutedC₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl; C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting essentially of C₁ -C₄ alkyl F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂ or NH₂.

Although it is understood that the reactants may be added to the reaction mixture in any order, in a preferred embodiment, the isocyanoacetate, 21, is added to a stirring mixture of solvent and base 8 (preferably 8a) followed by the acyl halide 17. The solvent and one equivalent of superbase is stirred at -10° to 50° C., preferably -5° to 10° C. Added to the stirring mixture is about one equivalent of isocyanoacetate. The mixture temperature is preferably maintained at about -5° to 10° C. with stirring for about 0-60 minutes. To the stirring mixture of isocyanoacetate and base is then added one equivalent of acyl halide (compound 17). This mixture is stirredat 5-°30° C., preferably about 25° C., for about 30 minutes to 2 hours, until complete formation of oxazole product as indicated by formation of a solid-liquid biphasic system.

As discussed previously, the super base may be recovered upon treatment with t-BuOK. The oxazole product may be isolated by chromatography or recrystallization and stored for future use. Alternatively, the oxazole product may be further reacted, with or without purification, to produce C-acyl-α-amino acid esters.

B. Oxazoles from Acid Anhydrides.

According to the present invention, acid anhydrides, 20, in combination with isocyanoacetates, 21, may also be reacted in a suitable solvent to form oxazoles 18. The R groups (R⁷ and R⁹) may be any substituent which is nonreactive according to the method of the invention and preferably do not prevent formation of the desired oxazole compounds. R⁷ may be an alkyl or benzyl, preferably unsubstituted C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl; and C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting essentially of C₁ -C₄ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe,OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂ or NH₂. R⁹ may be an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or ester. The alkyls and alkenyls may be branched or straight chain.Preferred R⁹ substitutions include: C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; CO₂ R where R=H, C₁ -C₄ alkyl, unsubstituted benzyl, unsubstituted aryl and C₁ -C₁₀ substituted benzyl or aryl.

The reaction is conducted in a suitable polar or nonpolar solvent such as benzene 1,3-dioxane, diethylether, DMF, or THF. Although the order of addition of reactants may vary, the preferred order follows. To a stirringmixture of solvent and one equivalent of super base compound 8, preferably compound 8a, is added about one equivalent of isocyanoacetate. The mixtureis stirred at -10° to 50° C., preferably -5° to 10° C., for about 0-60 minutes. Added to the mixture is about one equivalent of acid anhydride which is stirred at about 0°-50° C., preferably 5°-25° C. for about 30 minutes to 6 hours, typically 1 to 3 hours until complete formation of theoxazole product as indicated by formation of a solid-liquid biphasic system.

The oxazole product, compound 18, may be stored at about 4°-25° C. for future use, or may be further reacted, with orwithout purification, to form C-acyl-α-amino acid esters.

V. Preparation of C-Acyl-α-Amino Acid Esters

C-acyl-amino acids are useful intermediates in the synthesis of β-hydroxy amino acids, especially β-aryl serines and amino alcohols including sympathomimetic agents such as ephedrine and epinephrine. The high-yield efficient method for producing oxazole compounds as described in Section IV may be used to provide the oxazole starting compounds, 18, for the synthesis of C-acyl-α-amino acid esters. (Scheme E.)

Oxazoles produced according to Section IVA and IVB are reacted with an excess of an acid and an alcohol to produce C-acyl-α-amino acid esters. Suitable acids include concentrated HCl, HBr and PTSA. Suitable alcohols include EtOH and MeOH. In a preferred embodiment, oxazole 18, is treated with an excess of HCl-MeOH at about 35°-65° C., preferably about 50° C. The mixture is stirred for about 1 to 12 hours, preferably about 4 to 8 hours until completion as determined by TLC. The product C-acyl-α-amino acid esters (compound 19) are purified by recrystallization or chromatography and stored below 25° C.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Et) by using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =CH₃)

To a magnetically stirred solution of 4-acetoxy-3-nitrohexane 9a (0.68 g, 3.6 mmol), ethyl isocyanoacetate 10a (0.43 g, 3.6 mmol, 95%) and iso-propanol (0.8 mL) in dry THF (5 mL) at -20° C. was added dropwise a solution of trimethyl proazaphosphatrane 8a (1.6 g, 7.2 mmol) in dry THF (5 mL). The addition funnel was rinsed with 2 mL of dry THF andthe rinsing solution was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at -20° C. to -15° C. for 2 h. to form asolid (12(Y))/liquid biphasic system which gave no isocyanoacetate odor when the flask was opened. The solvent was rotary-evaporated in vacuo and the residue was extracted with hexane (20 mL). The precipitate was filtered in vacuo, washed within the filter with diethyl ether (2×10mL) and dried in vacuo to give ³¹ P and ¹ H NMR spectroscopicallypure solid product 12(Y) (Y=OAc, NO₂, mixture, 1.86 g, 96%; M=268). ³¹ P NMR (CD₃ CN), 9.2 (Y=NO₂) and -9.47 (Y=AcO). ¹ H NMR spectrum (CDCl₃)of the mixture of 12(NO₂) and 12(OAc): 1.98 (s, 3 H, CH₃ CO₂ ⁻), 2.60 (d, 9 H, NCH₃, ³ J=17.4Hz), 2.98 (dt, 6 H, N_(eq) CH₂,³ J=11.1 Hz, ³ J_(HH=) 6.3 Hz), 3.11 (dt, 6 H, N_(ax) CH₂,.sup. 3 J_(PH) =10.8 Hz, ³ J_(HH) =6.0 Hz), 5.27 (d, 1 H, PH, ¹ J_(PH) =494.1 Hz). The combined filtrate and washings were washed with water (15 mL). The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethylacetate (2×25 mL). The combined organic phases were dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ and rotary-evaporated in vacuo to give 1a as a ¹H NMR spectroscopically pure orange oil (0.70 g, 100%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.14 (t, 3 H, CH₃,³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.17 (t, partially overlapped with the peak at 1.14, 3 H, CH₃,³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.35 (t, 3 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.45 (q, 2 H, CH₂,³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.75 (2 H, CH₂,³ J.sub. HH =7.5 Hz), 4.31 (q, 2 H, OCH₂,³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 6.67 (d, 1 H, C₅ H, ³ J_(HH) =2.7 Hz), 8.76 (br, 1 H, NH). HRMS 195.12593 calcd for C₁₁ H₁₇ NO₂,measured 195.12556.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Et) using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

Salt 12(Y) can be washed away with water if recovery of 8a is not desired. Thus, the solid-liquid biphasic mixture obtained in the same procedure as in EXAMPLE 1 was rotary-evaporated in vacuo. The residue was mixed with water (15 mL), extracted with ethylacetate (3×25 mL), dried with anhydrous MgSO₄, and rotary-evaporated in vacuo to give 1a as a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure orange oil (0.70 g, 100%).

EXAMPLE 3 Recycling superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a magnetically stirred suspension of potassium t-butoxide (1.2 g, 0.011 mol) in dry CH₃ CN (20 mL) was added dropwise a solution of 12(Y) (Y=NO₂, OAc, a mixture, separated in EXAMPLE 1, 1.85 g, 6.9 mmol) in dry CH₃ CN (20 mL) by syringe. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and evaporated in vacuo (oil pump). By cannula, 200mL of dry pentane was added to the residue which was then stirred overnight. The pentane solution was transferred by cannula to another dry flask (500 mL), from whence it was evaporated in vacuo to give a white solid which was sublimed at 50° C./0.02 torr to give pure 8a (1.22 g, 82%). When this recycled 8a was used for the preparation of 1a, the yield of 1a was the same as that in EXAMPLE 1.

EXAMPLE 4 Preparation of 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1a (R.sup. 1 =R^(2=R) ³ =Et) using the weak base DBU

(a) To a magnetically stirred solution of 4-acetoxy-3-nitrohexane 9a (0.68 g, 3.6 mmol), ethylisocyanoacetate 10a (0.43 g, 3.6 mmol, 95%) and iso-propanol (0.8 mL) in dry THF (5 mL), was added dropwise a solution of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU, 1.12 g, 7.37 mmol) in dry THF (5 mL) at 0°-35° C. The addition funnel was rinsed with THF (2 mL) and the rinsing solution was added to the reaction mixture. After stirring at room temperature for 15 h., the mixture was poured into water (15 mL), extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL) and dried with anhydrous MgSO₄. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give a mixture of 1a and 16a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Et, 0.65 g) in the ratio of 9:1 (as shown by ¹ H NMR integration for the C₅ - H). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃) of 16a: 7.43 (d, ² J_(HH) =2.6 Hz), other peaks were overlapped with the peaks of 1a. HRMS of the mixture of 1a and 16a: 1a calcd 195.12593 for C₁₁ H₁₇ NO₂, measured 195.12546; 16a, calcd 239.13270 for C₁₂ H₁₇ NO₄, measured 239.13213. (b) The same reaction was conducted at -20° to -15° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was then poured into water (15 mL) and rotary evaporated in vacuo to remove THF. The residue was then diluted with water(5 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×25 mL). The extracts were dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ overnight, and rotary evaporated in vacuo to give 0.68 g of a brown liquid with a heavy isocyanoacetate odor. The brown oil displayed a complicated ¹ H NMR spectrum consistent with mainly starting material 9a and 10a with nearly no detectable 1a.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of 2-methoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1b (R¹ =R² =Et, R³ =Me) using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a magnetically stirred solution of 4-acetoxy-3-nitrohexane (4.80 g, 25.0mmol), methyl isocyanoacetate 10b (2.64 g, 25.0 mmol, 95%) and iso-propanol(6.5 mL) in dry THF (15 mL) at -20° C. was added dropwise a solutionof trimethyl proazaphosphatrane 8a (10.95 g, 50.69 mmol) in dry THF (15 mL). The mixture was stirred at -20° to -15° C. for 2 h. to form a solid-liquid biphasic system which was rotary evaporated to dryness. The residue was stirred with hexane (80 mL) for 30 min. The precipitate was filtered in vacuo, washed with ether (2×30 mL) and dried in vacuo to give ³¹ P and ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure 12(Y) (Y=NO₂, OAc mixture, 12.8 g, 95%). The combined filtrate and washings were washed with water (20 mL) and the organic layer was separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×50 mL), the combined organic phases were dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ and rotary evaporated in vacuo to give 1b as a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure orange oil (4.57 g, 100%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃₂): 1.13 (t, 3 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.89 (t, 3 H, CH₃,³ J_(HH)7.5 Hz), 2.46 (q, 2 H, CH₂,³ J_(HH) =7.4 Hz), 2.75 (q, 2 H, CH₂,³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 3.84 (s, 3 H, OCH₃), 6.67 (d, 1 H C₅ H, ² J_(HH) =2.7 Hz), 8.77 (br, 1 H, NH). For elemental analysis, a small amount of sample was recrystallized from hexane in a freezer. The supernatant was removed by syringe to give light yellowish crystals which were dried in vacuo. HRMS: calcd 181.11028 for C₁₀ H₁₅ NO₂, measured 181.11008. Elemental analysis: calcd C, 66.26;H, 8.35; N, 7.33, Found C, 66.03; H, 8.25; N, 7.98.

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-butylene pyrrol 1c (R¹ =R² =CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ CH₂, R³ =Et) using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a solution of 1-nitrocyclohexene 11c (0.66 g, 5.2 mmol) and ethyl isocyanoacetate 10a (0.62 g, 5.2 mmol, 95%) in dry THF (5 mL) at -20° C. was added dropwise a solution of trimethyl proazaphosphatrane 8a (1.12 g, 5.23 mmol) in THF (5 mL). The addition funnel was rinsed with 2 mL of dry THF which was then added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at -20° to -15° C. for 2 h. and evaporated in vacuo to dryness. The residue was stirred with hexane (25 mL) for 30 min and filtered in vacuo. The solid was washed with ether (2×10 mL) and dried in vacuo to give 12(NO₂) (1.28 g, 94%). ³¹ P NMR (CD₃ CN) of 12(NO₂): -9.27. The combined filtrate and washings were washed with water (10 mL) and then the organic layer was separated. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×30 mL) and the combined organic layers were then dried with anhydrous MgSO₄ overnight, evaporated in vacuo to give 1c (1.0 g, 100%) as a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure solid. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.32 (t, 3 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =6.9 Hz), 1.72 (m, 4 H, CH₂), 2.52 (t, 2 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =5.7Hz), 2.79 (t, 2 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =4.2 Hz), 4.27 (q, 2 H, OCH₂, ³ J_(HH) =6.9 Hz), 6.62 (d, 1 H, C₅ H, ³ J_(HH) =2.4 Hz), 8.87 (br, 1 H, NH). HRMS: calcd 193.11028 for C₁₁ H₁₅ NO₂, measured 193.11045.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-4-ethylpyrrol 1d (R¹ =Et, R.sup. 2 =CF₃, R³ =Et) using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a magnetically stirred solution of 2-acetoxy-3-nitro-1,1,1-trifluorobutane (1.99 g, 9.25 mmol), 9b prepared by using the method of Ono, N. et. al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Jap., 62:3386 (1989), ethyl isocyanoacetate (1.10 g, 9.25 mmol, 95%) and isopropanol (2.5 mL) in dry THF (5 mL) at -20° C. to -15° C. was added dropwise to a solution of trimethyl proazaphosphatrane, 8a (4.0 g, 18.5 mmol) in THF (5 mL). The addition funnel was rinsed with 2 mL of dry THF and the rinsing solution was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at -20° C. to -15° C. for 2 h. to form a solid (12(Y))/liquid biphasic system which gave an isocyanoacetate odor when theflask was opened. The solvent was removed and the residue was mixed with water (20 mL) and extracted with hexane (3×50 mL). The combined extracts were dried with MgSO₄ and rotary evaporated to give 1d as a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure oil (2.16 g, 100%) ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.20 (t, 3H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.36 (t, 3H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.62 (q, 2H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 4.38 (q, 2H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 6.73 (d, 1H, C₅ H, ³ J_(HH) =1.8 Hz), 9.51 Cot, 1H, NH) HRMS 235.08201 calcd from C₁₀ H₁₂ F₃ NO₂, measured 235.08222.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of 2-t-butoxycarbonyl-3-methoxycarbonyl ethyl-4-Methyl pyrrol 1e (R¹ =Me, R² =CH₂ CH₂ CO₂ Me, R³ =t-Bu) using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a magnetically stirred solution of 5-acetoxy-4-nitro-hexane 9c (0.83 g, 3.5 mmol), t-butyl isocyanoacetate (0.53 g, 3.5 mmol, 95%) and iso-propanol (0.5 mL) in dry THF (5 mL) at -20° C. to -15° C. was added dropwise a solution of 8a (1.548 g, 9.7 mmol) in THF (5 mL). The addition funnel was rinsed and the rinsing solution was added to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at -20° to -15° C.for 2.0 hours to form a solid (12(Y))/liquid biphasic system which gave no isocyanoacetate odor when the flask was opened. The solvent was rotary evaporated in vacuo. The residue was mixed with water (20 mL) and extracted with hexane (3×50 mL). The extracts were dried with MgSO₄ and then rotary evaporated to give a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure oil 9e (0.94 g, 100%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.56 (s, 94, CCCH₃)₃), 2.26 (s, 3H, C₄ -CH₃), 2.53 (t,2H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.75 (t, 2H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 3.67 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 6.65 (d, ¹ H, C₅ H, ³ J_(HH) =3. Hz), 8.86 (br, ¹ H, NH); HRMS 267.16706 for C₁₄ H₂₁ NO₄, measured 267.16735.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of 3,4-diethylpyrrol 3a (R¹ =R² =Et) using LiX

A mixture of 2-methoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1b (1.0 g, 55 mmol) which was prepared in EXAMPLE 5, lithium chloride (2.4 g, 0.055 mol) and water (0.1 g, 6 mmol) in DMSO (25 mL) was de-aerated with argon for 10 min. and then refluxed for 1.5 h. TLC (silica gel plate hexane: diethylether=5:1) showed that all of the starting material 1b had disappeared and that a newcomposition (3a) was formed. The mixture was poured into 100 g of ice-H₂ O and extracted with diethyl ether (3×50 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with saturated sodium chloride (15 mL)and rotary evaporated in vacuo to give 3a (0.68 g, 100%) as a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure oil. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.20 (t, 6 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.46 (q, 4 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 6.52 (d, 2 H, C₂ H and C₅ H; ³ J_(HH) =2.4 Hz), 7.81 (br, 1 H, NH). HRMS: calcd 122.10480 for C₈ H₁₃ N, measured 123.10483.

The same reaction was conducted with LiBr (10 equivalents) and LiI (10 equivalents). The time needed for complete conversion of 1b into 3a was 2.0 h. for LiBr and 3.0 h. for LiI. The yield of 3a in both cases was 100%. When the reaction was conducted with NaCl, however, no product 3a was formed upon 3 h. fluxing as shown by TLC.

2-Ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol was also de-ethylated and subsequently decarboxylated by LiCl, but the reaction was slower.

EXAMPLE 10 Preparation of 3,4-diethylpyrrol 3a (R¹ =R² =Et) using NaOH

To a solution of 1a (1.0 g, 5.1 mmol, prepared in EXAMPLE 4) in 95% ethanol(5 mL) was added in one portion a sodium hydroxide (0.32 g, 8.2 mmol) solution in water (0.7 mL). The solution was de-aerated with argon for 10 min. and then refluxed for 2 h. Following this, 5 mL of ethanol was distilled out at an oil bath temperature of 110° C. The residue wasmixed with water (3.5 mL) and refluxed under argon for 6.5 h., cooled to r.t. and extracted with diethylether (3×20 mL). The solvent was removed in vacuo to give a red-brown liquid 3a (0.31 g, 49%) which was contaminated with unreacted 1a as shown by ¹ H NMR spectroscopy. The aqueous layer was diluted with water (10 mL), neutralized with dilute hydrochloric acid and extracted with ether (2×20 mL). The aqueous layer was washed with 10% NaHCO₃ solution (10 mL) and extracted again with diethyl ether (2×20 mL). The combined ether phases were washed with 10% NaHCO₃ (5 mL) and evaporated in vacuo to give the sodium salt of 3,4-diethylpyrrolcarboxylate as a grey solid (0.48 g, 50%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.16 (t,3 H, CH, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.20(t, 3 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.46 (t, 2 H, CH₂, ³J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.78 (t, 2 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 6.74 (d, 1 H, C₅ H, ³ J_(HH) =2.7 Hz), 8.92 (br, 1 H, NH). (b) To asolution of 1a (1.0 g, 5.1 mmol) in 95% ethanol (5 mL) was added in one portion a sodium hydroxide (0.32 g, 8.2 mmol) solution in water (0.7 mL). The solution was de-aerated and then refluxed for 6.5 h. Ethanol was then distilled out at an oil bath temperature of 110° C. After cooling to r.t., the residue was dissolved in a mixture of ethanol (1 mL) and water (3.5 mL), the resulting solution refluxed for 19 h. under argon and extracted with diethyl ether (3×40 mL) to give 0.17 g of an unidentified solid.

EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of bis-2-(5-methoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrro)methane 4a (R¹ =R² =Et, R³ =Me)

A mixture of 2-methoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1a (0.40 g, 2.2 mmol, prepared in EXAMPLE 1), paraformaldehyde (0.26 g, 8.6 mmol), ethanol (2.5 mL) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (0.05 mL) was refluxed for 30 min under argon, cooled to room temperature and then kept in a freezer overnight at about -20° C. The resulting crystals were filtered in vacuo to give a white solid (0.36 g, 87.5%), m.p. 130°-131° C. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.06 (t, 6 H CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.15 (t, 6 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.42 (q, 4 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.72 (q, 4 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 3.80 (s, 6 H, OCH₃), 3.87 (s, 2 H, CH₂), 8.63 (br, 2 H, NH). HRMS: calcd 374.22056 for C₂₁ H₃₀ N₂ O₄, measured 374.22025. Elemental analysis: calcd C, 67.34, H, 8.08; N, 7.48. Found C, 67.37, H, 8.00, N, 6.87.

EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of bis-2-(5-ethoxycarbonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-4-ethyl pyrro)methane 4b (R¹ =Et, R² =CF₃, R³ =Et)

A solution of 2-ethoxy carbonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-4-ethyl pyrrol 1 d (0.25 g, 1.1 mmol), CH₂ (OMe)₂ (0.41 g, 5.4 mmol) and BF₃ •OEt₂ (0.1 g, 0.7 mmol) in dry CH₂ Cl₂ (10 mL) under argon was stirred at room temperature for 35 h. TLC showed complete conversion of 1d to 4b. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue was washed with 10% sodium bicarbonate (40 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×50 mL). The extracts were dried with sodium sulfateand rotary evaporated to give a white solid which was purified by flash chromatography using CH₂ Cl₂ as eluting solvent to give pure 4b (0.23 g, 88.5%). ¹ H (CDCl₃): 0.89 (t, 6H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.29 (t, 3H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.48 (q, 4H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 4.25 (q, 4H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 3.97 (s, 2H, CH₂), 10.23 (br, 2H, NH); ¹³ C NMR (CD₂ Cl₂): 14.00 (s, CH₃), 16.03 (s, CH₃), 18.48 (q, CH₂, ⁴ J_(FC) =2.1 Hz), 22.26 (s, C₅ CH₂), 61.9 (s, OCH₂), 116.86 (q, C₃, ² J_(CF) =38.1 Hz), 120.26 (q, C₄, ³ J_(FC) =3.8 Hz), 123.94 (q, CF₃, ¹ J_(FC) =268.9 Hz), 125.15 (q, cd, J_(FC) =1.6 Hz), 129.05 (s, C₅), 160.44 (s, C=0); HRMS 482.16403 calcd for C₂₁ H₂₄ F₆ N₂ O₄, measured 482.16389. Elementary analysis: calcd C, 52.26, H, 5,02,N, 5.81, found C, 52.22, H, 4.84, N, 5.82.

PTSA was also used as an acid catalyst but the reaction was much slower andneeded more than 10 days to complete.

Preparation of bis-2-(3-trifluoromethyl-4-ethyl pyrro)methane 5b is accomplished by further reacting 4b with lithium chloride and DMSO as described in Example 13.

EXAMPLE 13 Preparation of bis-2-(3,4-diethylpyrro)methane 5a (R¹ =R² =Et)

A mixture of bis-2-(5-methoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrro)methane 4a (0.26 g, 0.69 mmol), lithium chloride (0.60 g, 0.014 mol), water (26 mg, 1.4 mmol) and DMSO (10 mL) was de-aerated with argon for 10 min. and refluxed under argon for 2 h. The mixture was poured into ice-H₂ O (50 g), and extracted with diethylether (2×50 mL). The organic phase was washed with saturated sodium chloride (10 mL) and rotary evaporated in vacuo to give 5a (0.18 g, 100%) as a ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure oil. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): 1.12 (t, 6 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 1.22 (t, 6 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.38 to 2.51 (m, 8 H, CH₂), 3.84 (s, 2 H, CH₂), 6.39 (d, 2 H, C₅ H, ³ J_(HH) =2.3 Hz), 7.48 (br, 2 H, NH). HRMS: calcd 258.20960 for C₁₇ H₂₆ N₂, measured 258.20916.

EXAMPLE 14 Preparation of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octaethylporphyrin 6a (R¹ =R² =Et)

To a stirred suspension of LiAlH₄ (0.41 g, 0.011 mol) in dry THF (15 mL) at 0° C. to 3° C. was added dropwise a solution of 2-ethoxycarbonyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 1a (0.70 g, 3.6 mmol, prepared in EXAMPLE 1) in THF (15 mL). The addition funnel was rinsed with THF (2 mL) and the rinsing solution was added dropwise to the reaction mixture. The mixture was stirred at 0°-3° C. for 2 h. and then 5 mL of ethyl acetate was added followed by 30 mL of saturated ammonium chloride to destroy excess LiAlH₄. The solid was filtered off and washed with ethyl acetate (40 mL). The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×30 mL). The combined organic phases were rotary-evaporated in vacuo at room temperature (using ice-H₂ O as a recycling coolant to accelerate evaporation of solvent)to give a light-yellowish oil 2a (R¹ =R² =Et). To a solution of the crude, undried 2a and dimethoxymethane (2.7 g, 0.036 mol) in CH₂ Cl₂ (15 mL, dried with P₄ O₁₀) was added PTSA•H20 (0.11 g, 0.59 mmol). The mixture, which was contained in an aluminum-foil-wrapped flask, was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. ο-Chloranil (1.0 g, 4.1 mmol) in CH₂ Cl₂ (10 mL) was added in one portion to the red reaction mixture, which was then stirred at room temperature for another 24 h. Finally, the mixture was washed with1N NaOH (50 mL) and extracted with CHCl₃ (3×100 mL). The combined organic phases were rotary-evaporated and chromatographed on aluminum oxide (basic, activated, Brochman I, 2.5×17 cm) using CHCl₂ as eluent. After evaporation of the eluent, the product was recrystallized from CHCl₃ --MeOH to give pure OEP 6a (0.33 g, 69%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): --3.75 (br, 2 H, NH), 1.92 (t, 24 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 4.10 (q, 16 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 10.10 (s, 4 H, meso-H). UV-vis (CHCl₃): λmax 398, 498, 534, 566, 620. HRMS: calcd 534.37225 for C₃₆ H₄₆ N₄, measured 534.37072.

It was found that (1) The combined organic phases containing crude 2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-diethylpyrrol 2a obtained from the LiAlH₄ reduction reaction should not be stored or dried if a high yield of OEP 6awas desired, because 2a is not stable. (2) Dimethoxymethane was used as a dehydration agent to remove water formed from the acid-catalyzed condensation reaction of 2a. Basic or neutral aluminum oxide was preferredfor fast separation with a smaller amount of eluting solvent. Methylene chloride was preferred as the eluting solvent.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Preparation of OEP (6a) from la.sup.a.                                               Treatment of  Condensation Reaction                                                                          Yield of                                   Expt. crude 2a      Conditions      OEP %                                      ______________________________________                                         1     not dried but CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, PTSA.H.sub.2 O                                                              69                                               immediately used                                                                             CH.sub.2 (OMe).sub.2 (10 eq)                               2     dried with MgSO.sub.4                                                                        CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, PTSA.H.sub.2 O                                                              21                                               for 12 h      CH.sub.2 (OMe).sub.2 (10 eq)                               3     not dried but CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, PTSA.H.sub.2 O                                                              53                                               immediately used                                                         4     not dried but CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, PTSA.H.sub.2 O                                                              23                                               immediately used                                                                             (CH.sub.2 O).sub.n (10 eq)                                 ______________________________________                                          .sup.a In all four experiments, ochloranil was used as the oxidant, basic      aluminum oxide was used as the chromatography packing material and             CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 was employed as the eluting solvent.                   

EXAMPLE 15 Preparation of 1,2-3,4-5,6-7,8-tetrabutylenylporphyrin 6b (R¹ R² =R³ R⁴ =R⁵ R⁶ =R⁷ R⁸ =CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ CH₂)

To a suspension of LiAlH₄ (0.65 g, 0.016 mmol) in dry THF (20 mL) was added dropwise at 0°-3° C. a solution of 2-ethyoxycarbonyl-3,4-butylenylpyrrol 1c (1.0 g, 5.2 mmol, prepared in EXAMPLE 6) in dry THF (15 mL). The addition funnel was rinsed with dry THF(2 mL) and the rinsing solution was added dropwise to the reaction mixture.After the reaction mixture was stirred at 0°-3° C. for 2 h., 5 mL of ethyl acetate and 40 mL of saturated ammonium chloride were added to destroy excess LiAlH₄. The solid was filtered off in vacuo and washed with ethyl acetate (50 mL). The organic phase was separated and theaqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (2×40 mL), washed withsaturated sodium chloride and rotary-evaporated in vacuo at room temperature (using ice-H₂ O as a recycling coolant). To the residue was added dry CH₂ Cl₂ (20 mL), dimethoxymethane (3.4 g, 0.052 mol) and PTSA•H₂ O (0.21 g, 1.1 mmol). The mixture, which was contained in an aluminum-foil-wrapped flask, was stirred at room temperature for 24 h. ο-Choranil (1.53 g, 6.22 mmol) in CH₂ Cl₂ (10 mL) was added to the reaction mixture, which was then stirredfor another 24 h. Finally, the reaction mixture was washed with 1N NaOH solution, extracted with CHCl₃ (3×100 mL) and chromatographed on aluminum oxide (basic, activated, Brochman I, 2.5×15 cm). The product obtained upon evaporation was recrystallized from CHCl₃ --MeOH to give pure 6b (0.44 g, 65%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): -3.84 (br, 2 H, NH), 2.49 (br, 16 H), 4.11 (br, 16 H), 9.88 (5, 4 H). UV-vis(CHCl₃): λmax 398, 498, 534, 566, 618. HRMS: calcd 526.30966 for C₃₆ H₃₈ N₄, measured 526.30885.

EXAMPLE 16 Preparation of 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octaethyl-9,11-bis[p-trifluoromethylphenyl]porphyrin 7a (R¹ =R² =Et, R³ =p-CF₃)

A solution of 5a (0.18 g, 0.69 mmol, prepared in EXAMPLE 10) in methanol (15 mL) was deaerated with argon for 10 min. and PTSA•H₂ O (0.035 g, 0.18 mmol) was added to the aluminum-foil-wrapped flask. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 min. under argon and allowed to stand in the dark for 17.5 h at about 5° C. for 20 h. The methanol was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in THF (40mL). A solution of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyclobenzoquinone (0.53 g, 0.0023 mol) in THF (10 mL) was added over 5 min. The flask was then stirred for 7.0 h and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in CHCl₃ (5 mL), layered with a mixture of methanol (25 mL) and triethylamine (7 mL) and allowed to stand for 24 h. The solid was filteredand dried in vacuo to give 0.105 g of fine purple crystals (41.3%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): -2.10 (br, 2H), 1.16 (t, 12 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.4 Hz), 1.85 (t, 12 H, CH₃, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 2.75(q, 8 H, CH₂, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 4.00 (q, 8 H, CH₂, ³J_(HH) =7.5 Hz), 7.96 (d, 4 H, Ar--H, ³ J_(HH) =7.8 Hz), 8.36 (d, 4 H, Ar--H, ³ J_(HH) =7.8 Hz), 10.26 (s, 2 H). UV-vis (CHCl₃): λmax 410, 510, 544, 578, 628. HRMS: calcd 822.40962 for C₅₀ H₅₂ F₆ N₄, measured 822.40904.

EXAMPLE 17 Preparation of 4-methoxycarbonyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) oxazole 19a (R¹ =3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl, R² =Me) using the superbase 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a magnetically stirred solution of the superbase 8a (0.47 g, 2.1 retool)in dry THF (5 mL) at 5° C. was added in one portion methyl isocyanoacetate 12b (0.23 g, 2.1 mmol, 95%). The solution was stirred for 15 min. To this stirred solution was added dropwise a solution of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoylchloride 17a (0.50 g, 2.1 mmol, 98%) at 5° C. The reaction mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 30 min. to form a solid-liquid biphasic system lacking an isocyanoacetate odor when the flask was opened. The biphasic mixture was diluted with ethylacetate (40 mL) and filtered in vacuo. The solid was washed with ethylacetate (2×10 mL) within the filter and dried in vacuo to give ³¹ P NMR and ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure 12(Cl) (0.52 g, 98%). ³¹ P NMR (CD₃ CN): -9.40. ¹ H NMR (CD₃ CN): 2.60(d, 9 H, NCH₃, ³ J_(HH) =17.4), 2.98 (dt, 6 H, N_(eq) CH₂, ³ J_(PH) =11.1 Hz), ³ J_(HH) =6.0 Hz), 3.12 (dt, 6H, N_(ax) CH₂, ³ J_(PH) =5.7 Hz, ³ J_(HH) =6.0 Hz), 5.28 (d, 1 H, PH, ¹ J_(PH) =493.8 Hz). The combined filtrate and washings were washed with water (5 mL). The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL). The combined organic phases were dried over anhydrous MgSO₄ and rotary-evaporated to give ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure 18a (0.61 g,99%). ¹ H NMR (CD₃ CH): 3.78 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 3.84 (s, 3H, OCH₃), 3.85 (s, 6 H, OCH₃), 7.37 (s, 2 H, NH--H), 8.06 (s, 1 H, C₂ H). HRMS: calcd 293.08994 for C₁₄ H₁₅ NO₆, measured293.08940.

EXAMPLE 18 Preparation of 4-methoxycarbonyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) oxazole 18a (R¹ =3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl, R² =Me) using the weak base DBU

To a stirred solution of methyl isocyanoacetate 21b (0.44 g, 4.2 mmol, 95%)in dry THF (5 mL) at 5° C. was added DBU (0.63 g, 4.2 mmol). After the solution was stirred for 45 min, a solution of 3,4,5,-trimethyoxybenzoylchloride (0.99 g, 4.2 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was added dropwise at 5° C. The mixture was then further stirred at room temperature for 2 h. to give a brown solution with a heavy isocyanoacetate odor when the flask was opened. The solution was rotary evaporated, washed with water (10 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×35 mL). The combined organic extracts were rotary evaporated in vacuo to give a brown oil (0.68 g). The ¹ H NMR spectrum showed that this brown oil contained mainly unreacted methylisocyanoacetate and the hydrolyzed form of trimethoxybenzoylchloride, with a small amount of the desired 4-methoxycarbonyl-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)oxazole 18a. Gas chromatography of this mixture showed that only ˜8% of 18a had formed.

EXAMPLE 19 Preparation of 4-methoxycarbonyl-5-phenyloxazole 18b (R¹ =Ph, R² =Me) using the strong base 8a (R¹ =R² =R³ =Me)

To a solution of the base 8a (0.91 g, 4.2 mmol) in dry THF (5 mL) at 5° C. was added by syringe methyl isocyanoacetate (0.44 g, 4.2 mmol, 95%). After the solution was stirred at 5° C. for 15 min., a solution of benzoylanhydride 20a (R¹ =Ph, 0.97 g, 4.2 mmol) in dry THF (5 mL) was added at 5° C. The mixture was then stirred at room temperature for 30 min. to form a solid-liquid biphasic system without theodor of the isocyanoacetate when the flask was opened. The biphasic mixturewas rotary-evaporated in vacuo and the residue was treated with diethylether (30 mL) followed by filtration in vacuo. The solid was washedwithin the filter with ether (3×10 mL) and dried in vacuo to give 12(PhCO₂) (1.30 g., 91%). ³¹ P NMR (CD₃ CN): -9.52. ¹ H NMR (CD₃ CN): 2.58 (d, 9 H, NCH₃, ³ J_(PH) =17.4 Hz), 2.96 (dt, 6 H, N_(eq) CH₂, ³ J_(PH) =11.4 Hz, ³ J_(HH) =6.0 Hz), 3.10 (dt, 6 H, N_(ax) CH₂, ³ J_(PH) =7.2 Hz, ³ J_(HH) =6.0 Hz), 5.28 (d, 1 H, PH, ¹ J_(PH) =493.8 Hz), 7.23 and 7.89 (two m, 5 H, C₆ H₅). The filtrate and the washings were combined and washed with water (10 mL). The organic phase was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with ethyl acetate (20 mL). The combined organic phases were rotary evaporated in vacuo to give ¹ H NMR spectroscopically pure 18b (0.85 g, 100%). ¹ H NMR (CD₃ CN): 3.83 (s, 3 H, OCH₃), 7.49 and 7.96 (two m, 5 H, C₆ H₅), 8.03 (s, 1 H C₂ H). HRMS: calcd 203.05824 for C₁₁ H₁₉ NO₃, measured 203.05833.

EXAMPLE 20 Preparation of α-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acylamino acid methyl ester 19a (R¹ =3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl, R² =Me)

The oxazole 18a prepared in EXAMPLE 14 (0.61 g, 2.1 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of methanol (15 mL) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (5 mL). The solution was stirred at 50° C. for 6 h. and then rotary-evaporated to remove methanol. To the residue was added water (20 mL) and the acidic solution was then washed with diethylether (10 mL). Theseparated aqueous layer was rotary evaporated in vacuo below 30° C. The residue was dissolved in methanol and the resultant solution was then evaporated in vacuo to dryness. This treatment was repeated four times to remove excess hydrochloric acid. The resulting precipitate was recrystallized from ethyl acetate-methanol to give pure 19a (0.55 g, 82%),m.p. 175°-176° C. ¹ H NMR (DMSO-d₆): 3.71 (s, 3 H, OCH₃), 3.79 (s, 3 H, OCH₃), 3.87 (s, 6 H, OCH₃), 6.34 (s, 1H, CH), 7.47 (s, 2 H, C₆ H₂), 9.11 (br, 3 H, NH₃ ⁺). Mass (FAB): 284 (M--Cl)⁺, required for (M--Cl)⁺ 284.

EXAMPLE 21 Preparation of α-phenylacylamino acid methyl ester 19b (R¹ =Ph, R² =Me)

4-methoxycarbonyl-5-phenyloxazole 18b prepared in EXAMPLE 16 (0.83 g, 4.1 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of methanol (6 mL) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (2.5 mL) which was stirred at 50° C. for 6 h. Thesame work-up as described in EXAMPLE 17 gave pure 19b (0.76 g, 81%). m.p. 186°-187° C., ¹ H NMR (DMSO-d₆): 3.88 (s, 3 H, OCH₃), 6.25 (s, 1 H, CH), 7.61 (m, 2 H, Ar--H₂), 7.76 (m, 1 H, Ar--H), and 8.15 (d, 2 H, ³ J_(HH) =7.5 Hz; Ar--H₂), 9.20 (br,3 H, CH₃) Mass (FAB): 194 (M--Cl)⁺, required for (M--Cl)⁺ 194.

EXAMPLE 22 Preparation of bis-2-(3,4-butylenylpyrro)methane 5b (R¹ R² =CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ CH₂)

The dipyrromethane, 5b, may be prepared by adding a solution of 2-ethoxy carbonyl-3,4-butylenylpyrrol, 1e, (0.42 gram, 2.2 mmol), paraformaldehyde (0.26 gram, 8.6 mmol), ethanol (2.5 mL) and concentrated hydrochloric acid(0.05 mL). The mixture is refluxed 30 minutes under argon, cooled to room temperature and kept in a freezer overnight at about -20° C. The resulting product is mixed with lithium chloride (0.95g, 0.014 mmol), water (40 mg, 0.0022 mmol) and DMSO (10 mL) and de-aerated with argon for 10 minutes and refluxed under argon for 3 hours. The mixture is then poured into ice-H₂ O (50 g), and extracted with diethylether (2×50 mL). The organic phase is washed with saturated sodium chloride (10 mL) and rotary evaporated in vacuo to give 5b.

All publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated by reference.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made in the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing an oxazole compound said method comprising a step of reacting:(a) an isocyanoacetate compound of general structure:

    CNCH.sub.2 CO.sub.2 R.sup.7

wherein R⁷ is a substituent which is non-reactive under conditions of reaction, (b) a prophosphatrane base; and (c) a reactant selected from the group consisting of acyl halides and acid anhydrides.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the R⁷ group is selected from the group consisting of: unsubstituted C₁ -C₄ alkyl, unsubstituted benzyl, C₁ -C₄ alkyl and benzyl which are substituted at any carbon with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₄ alkyl, F, Cl, Br, I, OMe, OEt, Me, CF₃, NO₂ and NH₂.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said acyl halide reactant is of the general formula: ##STR21## wherein R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; CO₂ R where R is H, C₁ -C₄ alkyl, unsubstituted benzyl, unsubstituted aryl and C₁ -C₁₀ substituted benzyl or aryl; and X is F, Cl, Br, or I.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said acid anhydride is of the general formula: ##STR22## wherein R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of: C₁ -C₂₀ alkyl, C₁ -C₂₀ alkenyl, C₅ -C₂₀ aryl; CO₂ R where R is H, C₁ -C₄ alkyl, unsubstituted benzyl, unsubstituted aryl and C₁ -C₁₀ substituted benzyl or aryl.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxazole reaction product is further reacted to form a C-acyl-α-amino acid ester by a step of mixing the oxazole reaction product, an acid and an alcohol.
 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the prophosphatrane base is a compound according to the formula: ##STR23## Wherein R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶ are substituents which are non-reactive under the reaction conditions.
 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the prophosphatrane base is a compound according to the formula: ##STR24## 